title: [Unusual retinal abnormality: retinal hemorrhages related to scurvy].
abstract: A diet restricted to rice and boiled fruit and vegetables leads to vitamin C deficiency. We describe the third case, to our knowledge, of retinal hemorrhages related to scurvy. Reduced bilateral visual acuity in a 50-year-old patient was associated with macrocytic anemia, denutrition, and cutaneous ecchymoses. Oral vitamin C treatment provided subjective clinical improvement and regression of the retinal hemorrhages on fundus examination, with no side effects. Vitamin C plays an important role in collagen stability in vascular and bone walls.
authors.affiliation: Service d'ophtalmologie, hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, université Paris-VII, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France. marie-helene.errera@orange.fr
authors.forename: M-H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Errera
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dupas
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Man
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gualino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaudric
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Massin
mesh_terms: D000748:Anemia, Macrocytic / Q000209:etiology; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003094:Collagen / Q000502:physiology; D003296:Cooking; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D004438:Ecchymosis / Q000209:etiology; D004630:Emergencies; D005757:Gastritis, Atrophic / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D012614:Scurvy / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen; D001205:Ascorbic Acid